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Bharatpur Travel Guide
Bharatpur Travel
Guide
Bharatpur
is well-known for it world heritage listed bird sanctuary Keoladeo Ghanna
National Park. This is one of the few places in the world where you can
hope to sight hundred of different species of birds in just a few days.
Over 400 species different birds have been identified in the park and you
see them all over the place. Many tourists travelling to this destination
have rate it as the highlight of their visit. It is just 55 kilometres from
Agra and 176 kilometres from Jaipur.
The history of Bharatpur goes back to the epic age of Mahabharta when the
Matsya kingdom flourished in the 5th century BC. Some archaeological remains
of this period can be seen in the Bharatpur Museum. The city is supposed
to be named after Bharat, the brother of Lord Rama. Bharatpur was the stronghold
of the Jats in the 17th and 18th century.
They maintained considerable autonomy though they were allied to the Mughals;
this was largely due to their prowess in the battle and their marriage alliances
with the Rajputs. Their fort in Bharatpur even withstood attacks from the
British in 1805 and 1825 but later they signed a treaty of friendship with
the East India Company. It merged with the union of India at independence.
The walled city of Bharatpur has typical medieval period and characterizes
the security concern of that period. The walled city is irregular in shape
and elongated in the northeast to southwest direction. The street pattern
in the walled city is curvilinear typical of medieval townships. Religious
building like the Ganga Mandir, Laxman Mandir and Jama Masjid are located
on the town central spine between Mathura Gate and Kumher Gate. The hotels
are mainly located in a cluster near the Park in the south of the town.
The Keoladeo Ghanna National Park is about 5 kilometres from the town and
approachable by cycle rickshaw. Only cycle rickshaws are permitted inside
the park for maintaining ecological harmony.
Bharatpur
- The Eastern Gateway to Rajasthan, was founded by Maharaja Suraj Mal
in 1733 AD, it was once an impregnable well fortified city, carved out of
the region formerly known as Mewat. The trio of Bharatpur, Deeg and Dholpur
has played an important part in the history of Rajasthan.
The legends say that the place was named as Bharatpur after the name of
Bharat, the brother of Lord Rama, whose other brother Laxman was worshipped
as the family deity of the Bharatpur rulers, Laxman's name is engraved onthe
state arms and the seals. The city and the fort have been believed to be
founded by Rustam, a Jat of Sogariya clan. Maharaja Surajmal took over from
Khemkaran, the son of Rustam and established the empire. He fortified the
city by building a massive wall around the city.
The interesting aspect of the Bharatpur history is the domination of Jats
in the region since 17th century, leader like Churaman and Badan Singh brought
the Jats together to mould them into a force to reckon with. Suraj Mal has
been the greatest ruler who made them a formidable force and played a very
important role in the Indian history during 19th century.
Today Bharatpur is better known for the Keoladeo Natinal Park, a unique
bird place, delight of ornithologists.
Places to See :
Keoladeo
Ghana National Park
This magnificent bird haven in actual came into being paradoxically
as a duck shooting preserve for Maharaja Suraj Mull of Bharatpur. He transformed
the shallow depression formed by the confluence of River Gambhir and River
Banganga into a reservoir by damming the rainwater in monsoons.
Flooding of water created shallow wetland ecosystem causing it to be a perfect
habitat for an astounding variety of birds. The park that was a hunting
preserve for the Maharaja and the British continued to be so till 1964,
after which the hunting was banned. A forestation policy of planting acacias
was vigorously followed. However the ecosystem at the Park continues to
be fragile due to pressures of tourism and need for water from surrounding
villages.
However the environmentalists won the day in 1985 when UNESCO listed it
as World Heritage site and earlier in 1982 it was declared as National Park.
And, today the Park is recognised as the most important breeding and feed
grounds for the birds in the world. Some species are still endangered and
especially the Siberian crane.
Visitors are advised to maintain low noise level and avoid littering the
park. The Park opens from sunrise to sunset around the year. The ticket
is Rs 200 per foreign visitor and Rs 25 for Indian visitor. Vehicles are
permitted upto Shanti Kutir about 1.7 kilometres inside at Rs 50 per vehicle.
After this you can choose to walk, bicycle, or go by cycle rickshaw, Tonga
or boat when the water level is high. The cycle rickshaw wallah’s displaying
yellow plate meaning authorised double up as guides also carry binoculars.
Hotels do supply packed lunches and you can get a bite at a canteen on the
second gate and even at Forest Lodge.
Lohagarh
Fort
The massive iron fort structure built in the early 18th century. With
its impregnable defences its sustained itself even after a number of British
attacks . The fort was conceived and designed by Maharaja Suraj Mal, The
founder of Bharatpur.The fort has three palaces within its precincts- kishori
Mahal, Mahal Khas, Kothi Khas.
Government Museum
A rich collection of artefacts, exquisitely carved sculptures and ancient
inscriptions can be admired in the government museum located in the palace.
All these items speak volumes about the rich heritage, arts and crafts of
the region.
The Palace
This royal edifice is a fusion of the Mughal and Rajput architectural
styles with magnificent apartments and intricately designed floors tiles
having interesting patterns. One can marvel at the ancient exhibits displayed
in the museum in the central part of the palace.
Excursions in Bharatpur :
Deeg
Deeg(34 km) North of Bharatpur is this beautiful garden town, the
gardens have been laid with great care and precision, the sparkling foundtains
and meticulous palaces add to the beauty of this idyllic retreat of the
princes of Bharatpur. The tourist enjoy the charming settings of this agricultural
town, along with the well preserved palace pavilions and gardens.
Gopal Bhavan
Completed in 1760 , an imaginatively designed building complex with beautifully
laid gardens at its entrance and the rear overlooks the Gopal Sagar which
is flanked with smaller pavillioins Sawan and Bhadon The formal gardens
face a raised terrace with an arch of lustrous marble installed on a padestal
in the form of swing. This exquisite swing is a war trophy brought in by
the famous Jat King Raja Suraj Mal from the Mughal court in Delhi The spacious
and well proportioned Banquet Hall ahs a double row of graceful pillars.
The rear of the chamber is further divided by a charming sunken pool with
fountains. The Banquet hall houses a rich collection of curious, souvenirs
and Victorian furniture. Staricases wind upstairs to the upper floors. One
room contains a solid black marble bed from Delhi.
Bengal Chamber
It houses the dining from, and has sloping arches, with comfortable
cushions along the outer edges forming the seating area. The walls of the
royal Chess Room has trellis design and are painted in soft red.
Deeg
Fort
The fort stands majestically over a slightly elevated point, built by Raja
Duraj Mal. The fort is surrounded by impressive moats, ramparts and gateways
, the interiors are mostly in ruins now, but the watch tower still stands
in the ruins keeping an eye over the City and Palace: over it is placed
a gun captured from Agra fort. Another defunct cannon which was captured
from Ahmad Shah Abdali (1761), who seized the fort for six months, guards
a vantage point. Accommodation (Deeg) RTDC Midway, Near Bus Stand, Deeg
Rooms and Restaurant Facility.
Dhaulpur
The red sandstone from Dhaulpur is famous throughout the country and was
used in the construction of the Red Fort of Delhi. Dhaulpur has witnessed
many battles due to its proximity with Agra. Sikandar Lodi plundered it
in 1501 AD. , uprooting all its gardens. Babu mentions that it ws surrendered
to him in 1526. The oldest Mughal Garden built by Babur was discovered at
JHOR 16 kms from Dhaulpur, the grandeur of the garden is still reflected
by its ruins. The picturesque tomb of BIBI ZARinA, probabaly the daughter
of a local officer is an excellent building. MACH KUND, (5kms) from Dhaulpur,
a historical site, has a lake with over hundred temples on its embankment,
it bustles with life once a year during the pilgrimage. BARI, is known for
the VAN VIHAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. The TALAB-E-SHAHI LAKE,a nd FORT, were
built by Firoz Shah in 1286 AD. Excursion points around Dhaulpur are : Damoh
Waterfall Kanpur Mahal & Ram Sagar Sanctuary Laswari : Daulat Rao ScIndia
was defeated here at the hands of Lord Lake, which was a major land mark
in modern Indian History. Dhaulpur although a humble village, it is loaded
with fascinating facts and history, and has a marked Mughal influence. A
place worth visiting.
Fair & Festival of Bharatpur :
Brij Festival
BRIJ FESTIVAL (Feb - March) Bharatpur lies close to the Brij - the birth
place of Lord Krishna and childhood. Ras Leela depicting the life of Krishna
is performed by the professionals selected by the Rai community during the
festival.
Jaswant Exhibition
JASWANT EXHIBITION (Sept-Oct). A big carnival is held during Dussehra. Bdussehra
symbolises the victory of good over evil. Lord Ram defeated the demon king
Ravana on these day.
Gangaur Festival
GANGAUR FESTIVAL (Mar - Apr) Festival of maidens and married
women, dedicated to Gauri, the incarnation of Goddess Parvati. A gracious
procession is taken out, married women pray for the prosperity and long
life of their husbands, while young girls seek blessings for a good life
partner.
Teej
TEEJ (July - Aug) Festival of swings marking the advent of monsoons. Swings
are hung from the trees and decorated with flowers. Young girls sing songs
of love and the rain.
How to reach :
Air:
Nearest airport Agra (54 kms) fromBharatpur, Agra has daily flights for
Delhi,Bombay,Varanasi (via Khajuraho) and Lucknow
Rail:
Bharatpur is on the main Delhi - Bombay line with regular connections to
Mathura, Sawai Madhopur and Kota on the same route. It is also connected
with Agra
Road:
Bharatpur is well connected by road with Agra, Mathura, Delhi and Jaipur.
Regular bus services operate for all major cities.
Road distance to important places from Bharatpur : Agra 55 kms Fatehpur
Sikri 22kms Mathura 39kms Delhi 184 kms Jaipur 176 kms Alwar 117 kms.
Bharatpur Travel Guide, Reservation Form
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